Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says he is confident that the Health Tribunal will address protests by some labour unions in the Northern Cape.

Denosa protested against a plan to haul their members before disciplinary hearings following a damning Health Ombudsman’s report. It highlighted systematic failures at some hospitals in Kimberley, including the mental hospital.

Denosa says the provincial MEC for Health and the HOD must also face consequences.

Motsoaledi says the tribunal is empowered to deal with such disputes.

“In case you are not happy about the findings of the ombuds, you can just ignore them. You cannot go to the Ombuds and challenge him and say this is wrong because he can no longer do anything about it. That tribunal is the one legally empowered to deal with the matter.